Electrical connector assembly

Abstract: A one piece, low profile plastic connector assurance member (20) for use with plug and socket connectors (12,14) having a lock arm (30) and ramp (58) to provide a primary lock when connected together. The assurance member has a generally rectangular frame and a pair of deflectable bridge portions (70) extending between its sides (64). The deflectable bridge portions engage the ramp and snap over keeper projections (40) on the lock arm with an audible click when the connectors are properly connected to provide assurance of proper connection.

Description: The present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies and, more particularly, to a low profile connector position assurance for insuring that mating electrical connector bodies are properly connected together. US Patent No. 4,714,433 shows an electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector which is matable with a socket connector for electrically and mechanically connecting terminals connected to wires carried by the connector bodies together. The plug connector has a cantilevered lock arm which is deflected by a ramp on the socket connector and then latched behind the ramp to mechanically connect the connector bodies together when the plug connector is fully inserted into the socket connector. This US patent also discloses the use of a secondary lock member or connector position assurance in the form a rectangularly shaped frame having one end pivotally connected to ears on the socket connector and its other end snap fittable over a keeper on the cantilevered lock arm on the plug connector to assure that the plug and socket connectors are properly connected together and to provide a secondary lock. An electrical connector assembly is accordance with the present invention is characterised by the features specified in Claim 1. The present invention provides a novel, thin or low profile connector position assurance member for use with plug and socket connectors in which one connector has the cantilevered lock arm which engages and is deflected over the ramp on the other connector to provide a primary lock to connect the connectors together. The connector position assurance member is preferably made of a plastic material and has a generally rectangular frame shape with a large central opening. The connector position assurance member preferably has spaced parallel sides and ends and also has a pair of bridges or bridge portions extending transversely between its sides and at a location spaced from an adjacent end of the connector position assurance. The bridge portions are flexible toward and from their adjacent ends. The connector position assurance member is preferably completely reversible in that it has identical ends and bridge portions and identical planar top and bottom sides so that no particular orientation is required to attach it in place. In operation, the connector position assurance member, after the plug and socket connectors are connected together, is attached by merely placing one end beneath the cantilevered lock arm adjacent the ramp and its other end over the cantilevered lock arm and then sliding the same to the rear of the lock arm. The bridge portion preferably located adjacent the ramp preferably has a recess for receiving the rear edge of the ramp and the bridge portion will be deflected upon its engaging the rear edge of the ramp. The lock arm on the other connector has keeper projections at its rearward end over which the other bridge portion is forced, the bridge portion deflecting and then snapping underneath the keeper projections with an audible click. When this occurs, the connector position assurance member is in place and it insures that the connectors have been properly connected together. The connector position assurance member will also provide a secondary lock function because one end will be disposed beneath the cantilevered lock arm and the other end will be disposed beneath the keeper projection on the lock arm and with the two bridge portions being biased against the rear edge of the ramp and the radially extending end of the lock arms. If the connector position assurance member cannot be snapped into place, it is a clear indication to the operator that the mating connectors have not properly mated together. The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a top plan exploded view of an electrical connector assembly comprising a pair of electrical connector bodies and a connector position assurance member; Figure 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the electrical connector assembly shown in Figure 1 and with the connector position assurance member being shown in cross section; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the electrical connector assembly of the present invention and showing the connector position assurance member partially connected to the mated connector bodies; Figure 4 is a view like that shown in Figure 3, but showing the connector position assurance member connected to the mated connector bodies; and Figure 5 is a top plan view of the electrical connector assembly shown in Figure 4, and with portions thereof broken away and shown in section. Referring to the drawings, an electrical connector assembly 10 is shown therein. The electrical connector assembly 10 comprises a plug connector body or plug connector 12, a female socket connector or socket connector 14 and a connector position assurance member 20. The plug connector 12 could be of any suitable or conventional construction and can be moulded from a suitable electrically insulating plastic material and have a forward plug portion 22. The plug connector 12 has a plurality of cavities (not shown) therethrough for housing electrical terminals 24 which are suitably connected to a cables or leads 26. The terminals 24 could be of any suitable or conventional construction and would be suitably retained within the cavities in the plug connector 12. The plug connector 12 also has a cantilevered lock arm 30 extending both radially outwardly therefrom and axially along the forward plug portion 22. The lock arm 30 is bifurcated to define a pair of spaced forwardly extending sides 32 which extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plug connector 12 and which are joined at a forward bight 34. The sides 32 are integrally connected to the plug connector 12 by radially or outwardly extending legs 36. The spaced sides 32 define a slot 35 therebetween. The bight 34 is slanted upwardly or away from the forward plug portion 22 to define a ramp surface 38, and for a reason to be hereinafter more fully described. The sides 32 of the lock arm 30 at their rearward ends define keeper tabs or projections 40 which extend slightly rearwardly of the legs 36. The plug connector 12 is also provided with an annular elastomeric seal 42 which abuts an annular flange 43 at the legs 36 of the lock arm 30. The socket connector 14 could be of any suitable or conventional construction and can be made from a suitably electrically insulating plastic material. The socket connector 14 has a central opening (not shown) for receiving the forward plug portion 22 of the plug connector 12 and a plurality of cavities therethrough (not shown) for housing terminals 50 matable with terminals 24 and connected to cables or leads 52. The socket connector 14 at its forward end portion 54 has a generally planar surface 56. Integral with the planar surface 56 is an inclined ramp or tab 58 having an inclined ramp surface or edge 58a and an oppositely facing surface or edge 58b which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the socket connector 14. The plug connector 12 is connected to the socket connector 14 by inserting the plug connector into the central opening (not shown) in the socket connector 14. As this occurs, the inclined surface 38 of the bight 34 of the lock arm 30 will engage the inclined ramp surface 58a of the ramp 58 to cause the lock arm 30 to be deflected radially outwardly of the plug connector 12. This occurs until the plug connector 12 is fully mated or seated in the socket connector 14 and the bight 38 passes over the ramp 58 whereupon the self-biasing forces of the lock arm 30 causes the bight portion 34 to snap behind the surface 58b on the ramp 58 and be locked there behind. This provides the primary lock for connecting the two connectors 12, 14 together. It should be noted that during this movement, the matable terminals 50 and 24 will be mated together and the seal 42 will engage an inner surface (not shown) in the forward end portion 54 defining the central opening in the socket connector 14 to provide a seal between the connectors 12 and 14. In accordance with the provisions of the present invention, the connector position assurance member 20 is provided to insure that the plug and socket connectors 12, 14 have been properly mated together. The connector position assurance member 20 can be made from a suitable flexible, plastic material, but is preferably made from nylon. The connector position assurance member 20 comprises a one piece, thin or low profile member which is generally of a rectangular frame shape with rounded corners 60. The connector position assurance member 20 has a large central through opening 62 and has a pair of spaced parallel sides or side portions 64 and a pair of spaced parallel ends or end portions 66. The connector position assurance member 20 also has opposed, parallel, planar sides 67, 68. The end portions 66 at their planar sides 67, 68 are provided with spaced linear ridges 69 extending transversely between the side portions 64 to aid in enabling an operator to pick up and grip the connector position assurance member 20. The connector position assurance member 20 also includes a pair of bridges or bridge portions 70. Each bridge portion 70 at its ends is integral with the side portions 64 and extends parallel to, but spaced from, an adjacent end portion 66. The connector position assurance member 20 includes transversely extending elongated slots 74 to separate the bridge portions 70 from the end portions 66. The bridge portions 70 can be flexed toward and from the end portion 66 located adjacent thereto. Each of the bridge portions 70 includes, at its middle, a notch or recess 76. The bridge portions 70 at their ends integral with the side portions 64 are of a lesser width so that the bridge portion 70 can be more readily flexed toward and from the adjacent end portion 66. It should be noted that the connector position assurance member 20 has identical planar sides 67, 68, identical end portions 66 and bridge portions 70 so that it can be used in a completely reversible fashion. As best shown in Figures 3-5, the connector position assurance member 20 is connected to the electrical connector assembly 10 by placing one end portion 66 thereof beneath the lock arm 30 adjacent the ramp 58 and the bridge portion 70 adjacent the other end portion 66 thereof on the lock arm 30 adjacent the legs 36. The connector position assurance member 20 can then be moved in a direction to bring the surface 58b of the ramp 58 into the adjacently located notch 76 in the bridge portion 70 and into engagement with that bridge portion 70. Further movement of the connector position assurance member 20 toward the right, will cause the bridge portion 70 engaging the ramp 58 to be deflected towards its adjacent end portion 66 and will allow the other bridge portion 70 overlying the lock arm 30 to engage the keeper projections 40 and then be deflected towards its adjacent end portion 66 until it clears the keeper projections 40 and snaps thereunder, as shown in Figure 4. This snap over action will cause an audible click to let the operator know that the connection has been made. It should be noted that once the plug connector 12 is connected to the socket connector 14, the connector position assurance member 20 can be connected thereto by the use of one hand. The audible click provides a positive indication to an operator working at a location difficult to reach and/or where he cannot see that the connectors 12,14 have been properly connected. When the connector position assurance device 20 is connected to the electrical connector assembly 10, the bridge portions 70 will biasingly engage the surface 58b of the ramp 58 and the legs 36 to biasingly hold the connector position assurance member 20 in place without rattling. It should also be noted that the connector position assurance member 20 also provides a secondary lock in that it will prevent the connectors 12, 14 from being disconnected from each other. From the foregoing, it should be apparent that a novel, one piece, low profile, completely reversible connector position assurance member has been provided which is of a simple and highly effective construction which can be applied from either end or either side, which can be attached with the use of one hand and which provides a foolproof assurance that the connectors have been properly mated.

Claims: An electrical connector assembly (10) having a first connector (12) provided with an integral deflectable cantilevered lock arm (30) extending axially along the first connector, said lock arm (30) comprises at least one keeper projection (40) extending rearwardly from the rearward end of said lock arm (30); a second connector (14) matable with the first connector and having a transversely extending ramp (58), the lock arm engaging and being deflectable from a normal free state position by the ramp when the first and second connectors are being mated until the lock arm clears the ramp whereupon self-biasing forces on the lock arm return the lock arm towards the normal free state position to lock behind the ramp to lock the first and second connectors together; and a connector position assurance means (20) for retaining the first and second connectors locked together; characterised in that the connector position assurance means (20) is only retainable on the first and second connectors when the first and second connectors are properly mated and comprises a substantially planar one-piece flexible member having a central through opening (62), opposed end portions (66), and a transverse flexible bridge portion (70) extending transversely across said opening adjacent and substantially parallel to one of the end portions and which can be flexed toward and away from the one end portion, the connector position assurance means (20) being connected to the first (12) and second (14) connectors when mated by positioning one end portion under the lock arm (30) and sliding said end portion towards the ramp (58), engaging the other end portion on the keeper projection (40) on the lock arm and then pushing the one end portion toward the first connector until the other end portion passes over the keeper projection (40) and snaps beneath the keeper projection (40). An electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the connector position assurance means (20) includes a second flexible bridge portion (70) extending transversely across said opening adjacent and substantially parallel to the other end portion (66) and which can be flexed toward and from the other end portion, the second bridge portion engaging the ramp (58) on connecting the connector position assurance means to the first and second connectors (12,14) such that the bridge portions biasingly engage the ramp and the lock arm. An electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the end portions (66) and the bridge portions (70) of the connector position assurance means (20) are identical such that the connector position assurance means is reversible. An electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each bridge portion (70) has a notch (76) at its middle to receive the ramp (58). An electrical connector assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each end portion (66) has linear ridges (69) to aid in gripping the connector position assurance means (20). An electrical connector assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the or each bridge portion (70) has a reduced width at its ends. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the connector position assurance means (20) is made of plastics material and is substantially rectangular.

Inventors: KIGHTLINGER JOHN THOMAS, KIGHTLINGER, JOHN THOMAS
Applicants: GEN MOTORS CORP, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G02B6
IPC codes: H01R13